Table 3 Descriptive statistics and correlation matrix of HLS₁₉-YP12, with variances on the diagonal

1: HL04

…find out where to get professional help when you are ill?

[Instructions: such as doctor, nurse, pharmacist, psychologist]

1.000

.353

.302

.409

.260

.282

.306

.294

.257

.252

.253

.354

2: HL07

…understand information about what to do in a medical emergency?

.353

1.000

.381

.383

.377

.360

.451

.359

.359

.321

.303

.363

3: HL10

…judge the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment options?

.302

.381

1.000

.474

.303

.358

.417

.259

.437

.377

.362

.312

4: HL13

…use information your doctor gives to you to make decisions about your illness?

.409

.383

.474

1.000

.313

.374

.409

.342

.378

.360

.333

.402

5: HL18

…find information on how to handle mental health problems?

[Instructions: stress, depression, or anxiety]

.260

.377

.303

.313

1.000

.322

.334

.262

.286

.292

.281

.304

6: HL23

…understand information about recommended health screenings or examinations?

[Instructions: e.g., colorectal cancer screening, measuring blood pressure, blood sugar test]

.282

.360

.358

.374

.322

1.000

.427

.375

.327

.406

.361

.325

7: HL26

…judge which vaccinations, you or your family may need?

.306

.451

.417

.409

.334

.427

1.000

.436

.340

.274

.326

.360

8: HL30

…decide how you can protect yourself from illness using advice from family or friends?

.294

.359

.259

.342

.262

.375

.436

1.000

.319

.286

.253

.266

9: HL36

…find information about how to promote health at work, at school or in the neighborhood?

.257

.359

.437

.378

.286

.327

.340

.319

1.000

.338

.428

.446

10: HL38

…understand information on food packaging?

.252

.321

.377

.360

.292

.406

.274

.286

.338

1.000

.190

.316

11: HL41

…judge how your neighborhood may affect your health and well-being?

[Instructions: Your community, your neighborhood]

.253

.303

.362

.333

.281

.361

.326

.253

.428

.190

1.000

.334

12: HL46

…influence your living conditions that affect your health and well-being?

[Instructions: Drinking and eating habits, exercise etc.]

.354

.363

.312

.402

.304

.325

.360

.266

.446

.316

.334

1.000

N

406

399

393

403

407

406

403

409

401

411

398

405

Percentage (%) distribution of “very difficult” responses

2

3

3

1

6

1

2

2

2

2

6

2

Percentage (%) distribution of “difficult” responses

12

23

40

19

36

15

31

24

32

20

40

17

Percentage (%) distribution of “easy” responses

42

53

46

59

43

54

46

54

52

47

42

59

Percentage (%) distribution of “very easy” responses

44

21

12

21

15

30

21

20

14

30

11

22